Hornet (comics)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Hornet is an identity used by three fictional characters in the Marvel Universe, one villain, and two heroes. Both the first and third Hornets have suffered from physical disabilities.
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[edit] Hornet (Scotty McDowell)
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[edit] Fictional character biography
Scotty McDowell was a wheel-chair bound criminologist, who assisted Spider-Woman on her cases. He was kidnapped by an insane scientist called Malus, who injected Scotty with a formula composed of human and insect DNA, as well as several kinds of medicine. Spider-Woman rescued Scotty, who seemed fine.
Scotty began to suffer from nightmares in which he killed Spider-Woman[1]. He awoke to discover that he had great strength and insect-like wings that allowed him to fly (but, ironically, he still could not walk). He then received a costume in the mail (sent by Malus), and when he put it on, had a personality shift, becoming aggressive and chauvinistic. He flew around as the Hornet, and started out as a hero, saving people, and working with Spider-Woman. He even learned that he could throw bursts of bio-electricity.
But Hornet became more and more resentful of Spider-Woman, and began to endanger the innocents he was 'helping", even striking an onlooker with one of his electric blasts. When he nearly killed some thieves, Spider-Woman was sent after him. However, Hornet's abilities were almost a match for hers, and unlike Spider-Woman, he wasn't trying to hold back for fear of hurting his friend. After a prolonged battle, Spider-Woman was able to subdue the Hornet, who was nearly homicidal by this point. She learned that Malus had altered Scotty into the Hornet, for the sole purpose of having her die at the hands of a friend. Spider-Woman was able to flush the formula from Scotty's bloodstream, and revert him to normal (stripping him of both his powers and aggression).
Afterwards, Spider-Woman learned that although the formula did make him more aggressive, the resentment he felt towards her was real. Scotty admitted he was in love with her, but felt that she didn't notice him. He was also jealous of the attention she garnered with her heroic deeds. This put a strain on their friendship, and Spider-Woman ended their "working relationship".
[edit] Powers
As the Hornet, Scotty was superhumanly strong, and had insect-like wings on his back that allowed to fly at high-speed. He could even throw focused bursts of electricity (his "Hornet Sting") that could stun, or even kill, a person.
[edit] Hornet (Peter Parker)
[edit] Fictional character biography
When Spider-Man was accused of murder during the Spider-Man: Identity Crisis storyline, he donned several different costumes to continue saving lives without anyone knowing it was him. The Hornet costume was designed by Mary Jane Watson-Parker and the weapon gauntlets were designed by Spider-Man based on Ben Reilly's stinger darts. The cybernetically-controlled wing harness was designed by Hobie Brown, the Prowler, who never used it as it was too heavy to be worn by a person of normal strength. Spider-Man, however, was easily able to wear it.
He used it with great success for several days, becoming a popular hero with the media. However, during a battle, the Vulture realized that he was actually Spider-Man and exposed him. He abandoned the Hornet persona, and soon after cleared his name.
Although the hero called Black Marvel later gave Eddie McDonough a duplicate Hornet costume, Spider-Man remained in possession of the original, except for the flight harness which was returned to Hobie Brown. It has not been seen since.
[edit] Powers
In addition to his regular abilities, the Hornet costume gave Spider-Man the ability to fly and shoot fast-acting sedative stinger darts.
[edit] Hornet (Eddie McDonough)
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[edit] Fictional character biography
Eddie McDonough was a science whiz who compensated for his palsied arm with a knack for inventing. He was given the Hornet costume by the Black Marvel, and joined the Slingers. Eddie was able to modify the harness, making it light enough to wear. He also added additional weaponry, and made the costume more like a suit of armor (and even enabled the costume to enhance his strength). As the new Hornet, Eddie was more confident than he was normally. With the suit enhancing his strength, nobody notice that his left arm was weaker and atrophied. Hornet fought mutant rats, gangsters, and demons with his powers. Hornet also had to fight team leader Prodigy to save his friend Ricochet and even the villains they were fighting from the superhumanly strong "hero". Hornet also tried to win the affections of his teammate Dusk (but she was more attracted to the energetic Ricochet).
Hornet learned that the Black Marvel had made a deal with the demon Mephisto, to return his powers and youth, and let him train new heroes (the Slingers), and when Mephisto collected the Black Marvel's soul, he took the Slingers too and sent them to Hell. He offered them the chance to leave, if they abandoned Black Marvel. While the other Slingers wanted to leave Black Marvel to his fate, Hornet was able to forgive the old man, and convinced the others to help free him. Black Marvel died in the attempt, but Hornet's act of forgiveness enable the Black Marvel's soul to ascend to a better place. In doing so, Hornet's armor and Prodigy's powers were surrendered and lost. Depowered, Hornet and Prodigy retired from the team and from superheroics.
Hornet's next appearance was in Wolverine #23, where his corpse was found, Hornet having apparently been killed by the mind-controlled mutant. Hornet's body was mistaken for Spider-Man, then beheaded by Elektra, in order to prevent the Hand from resurrecting him into their army. How Hornet rebuilt his armour, regained his powers and returned to being a superhero has not been explained. It has been speculated that the Hornet who appeared in Wolverine was not Eddie McDonough.
[edit] Powers
The Hornet costume had a jet-powered wing harness that enabled Eddie to fly at high speeds. Micro-servos in the armored suit enhanced his strength beyond normal levels. His gauntlets contained wrist blasters that could fire darts filled with a fast-acting sedative, or powerful laser-beams.
[edit] References
- ^ Spider-Woman vol. 1 #31
